Gay Republicans pleased with Ryan as VP choice

The two major gay Republican organizations are ecstatic over the choice of Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney's running mate.

'Congressman Paul Ryan is a strong choice for vice president, and his addition to the GOP ticket will help Republican candidates up and down the ballot,' said R. Clarke Cooper, the executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans, in a press release.

Cooper pointed to Rep. Ryan's 2007 vote for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and 'his consistent willingness to engage with Log Cabin' as proof the vice presidential nominee is a 'fair minded policy maker.'

Cooper's group has not made an official recommendation for the upcoming presidential election.

GOProud, who have endorsed Romney, is similarly pleased and paid close attention to the nominee's expertise in economic matters.

'Like all Americans, gays and lesbians in this country are concerned with the out-of-control spending and growing mountains of unsustainable federal debt,' Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud, announced in a release. 'Gay Americans understand that without reforms – Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will go bankrupt. The future prosperity for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, is at stake if we do not act today.'

LaSalvia noted the Nondiscrimination Act vote and said the Wisconsin representative 'has urged both parties to avoid the culture wars over issues like gay marriage.'

Ryan did not support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and he and his running mate are opposed to same sex marriage. Last year, Romney signed a pledge sponsored by the National Organization of Marriage. The document calls for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, even in states where it’s been approved, and the creation of a presidential commission to ‘investigate harassment of traditional marriage supporters’.

NOM is also contented with Ryan as number two on the Republican ballot. The group's blog lists his 'pro-marriage votes,' including the stand for DADT.